What is an Infinite Boundaries retreat?Infinite Boundaries®retreats are 4-day wellness retreats that include discussion groups, creative arts and low-impact physical activities. Special care is taken in choosing scenic, natural settings because we believe that healing can be found in nature. Discussion topics include dealing with difficult feelings such as anger, betrayal, fear and guilt; restoring one’s sense of joy in areas such as sensuality and sexuality and living with the fear the cancer may return. At metastatic retreats, the third discussion will focus on techniques to manage stress and end of life decisions. Creative activities are designed to encourage self-expression and include beading, creating flags, and mask making. At retreat, participants are encouraged to stretch their boundaries by learning a new physical skill. Physical wellness through low-impact exercise and body movement and healthy, nutritious meals are a part of daily life during an Infinite Boundaries®retreat.

Is it too soon for me to go on a retreat? We usually encourage women to wait until they have completed their treatment; however, many women with breast cancer receive a longer-term treatment and they may be “ready” for a retreat as soon as their acute treatment has ended. Women that are in treatment at the time of retreat will be asked to have their physician sign a release.

Is it too late for me to go to a retreat? Women attend retreat at different times from the date of their diagnosis. Frequently, they choose to attend after their treatment has ended, within 1-2 years. Many women are years out from their diagnosis and feel they are in a place in their life where they would like to focus on living life more fully.

Why should I attend a retreat? When traveling on an airplane, passengers are instructed to "put your own oxygen mask on first and then assist those around you." By attending an Infinite Boundariesretreat and taking care of yourself you will be better able to take care of those who depend on you. We encourage you to give yourself permission to focus on you for a few days.

I am so emotional; I am afraid that I will cry all the time. Can I still come? The Breast Cancer Recovery staff is committed to creating a safe environment so that you can feel comfortable just as you are. We strive to meet women where they’re at, both physically and emotionally. Breast Cancer Recovery believes that there is no right or wrong way to feel. Whatever you are feeling is normal.

Is the retreat really “touchy feely?” Infinite Boundariesretreats provide environments for women to heal emotionally from their breast cancer. People have different perceptions of what “touchy feely” means to them. Some of us are like open books and others choose to process their emotions internally and both are fine.

Do I have to participate in all of the activities? We encourage attendance at all meals and activities so that you can benefit from your time at retreat. However, retreat is your time so if you need to rest or take care of other health needs; we ask that you communicate that with your retreat team. One of the key concepts we encourage at retreat is asking for what you need. We encourage participants to participate at their comfort level in all of the components of the retreat. You are always in control of your level of disclosure and participation.

Can I continue my special diet at retreat? Yes. We are able to accommodate most dietary concerns. We strive to provide healthy, nutritious meals with an occasional treat. We can provide vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meal options.

Will I have my own room? Yes, you will have your own room.

What time are we expected to arrive the first day and leave the last day? We ask that you arrive between 3 and 4 pm on the first day and will finish on the last day by 11:00.

Can I attend a retreat with a friend or relative? The retreats are exclusively designed for breast cancer survivors to continue or begin healing on their own. We believe that this is a time for self-reflection for survivors and this is done best by attending a retreat solo. Only survivors may attend the retreats.

Are there different types of retreat? We offer regular retreats for women at any stage of diagnosis and metastatic retreats for women that have a stage 4 (metastatic) diagnosis. If you have any other specific things you are looking for such as young survivors or solo survivors, we can try to match you with a retreat that has similar participants registered.

How do I register for retreat?You can register online at www.bcrecovery.org or by calling our office 888-821-1140 or 608-661-4178. You will complete our registration form choosing the retreat you would like to attend. If that retreat is full you may choose another retreat or be placed on a waiting list. We ask each participant to pay a total $400 registration fee. To reserve your place at a retreat we require at $150 non-refundable deposit. The remaining $250 is due prior to attending retreat. The actual cost to attend a retreat is $1,500 per woman. Due to very generous donors, all women receive a scholarship of $1,100.

Can I pay in installments? Yes. We will work with you to make it possible to attend a retreat.

Are scholarships available? Yes. Because women living with breast cancer often face considerable medical expense during and after diagnosis, Breast Cancer Recovery places a strong emphasis on ensuring that all women – regardless of financial standing – can experience an Infinite Boundariesretreat. If you need additional financial assistance, please complete the scholarship application below the registration application. This is not available online – you will need to request a paper form from our office.

Does Breast Cancer Recovery help with travel? At this point we are unable to help with any travel expenses or provide transportation to and from the retreats. We do however, put you in contact with others attending retreat for you to carpool

Can I attend more than one retreat? If you have attended a retreat you are an Infinite Boundaries Alumni. Please call the Breast Cancer Recovery office at (608) 661-4178 or (888)821-1140.

I am interested in speaking with someone who has attended retreat. Is this possible? We have plenty of past retreat attendees who are willing to share their retreat experience. Please give us a call and we will put you in touch with someone (608)661-4178 or (888)821-1140.